Cord-making machine



March 23 1926. 1,577,521

- F. S. DICKINSON ET AL CORD MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I llm' I. 1 wlllllmw B-Illlln r INVENTOJ FREDRJCK S. .DILKINJO ALBERT E. HEARD.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED sTA 'ro DICKINSON com) TIRE CORPORATION,

TES' \PATE CORD-MAKIN G MACHINE;

Application filed October 4, 1922. Serial No. 592,214.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that we. FREDRIOK S. DICK- INSON and ALBERT E. Qrmranmboth 1'6S1Cl New York, have-invented certain. new and useful Improvements in a Cord-Making Machine, of which the following is .a speci:

fication.

This invention relates to twisting machines, and has to do more particularly with a machine for making cord, in which a number of strands are united into a single cord by being twisted about themselves. The cord which is made by the machine which forms the subject matter of this application is designed for use under circumstances which make it essential that each of the strands in the finished cord should bear an equal proportion of the load when the cord is placed under tension. In order that the cord may meet these requirements, it is necessary that in laying the cord the strands should be combined with a twist which is uniform throughout the length of the cord and that the individual strands should be held under uniform conditions of tension. It is further necessary that the cord which it is intended to produce should be of a uniformcross-section throughout its length and to accomplish this end the individual strands must be evenly laid in place, and must be carefully guided into position in the finished cord.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a cord making. or twi ting machine. of the type described, in which the individual strands are laid upon them selves under uniform conditions of tension, and directed by suitable guides into the positions which they are finally to assume in the twistedcord.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type described. in which the cords are led through the various devices with a minimum of friction, thereby obviating the possibility of varying degrees of tension on the individual strands, and insuring a uniform distribution of load when the cord is in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type described, in which the individual strands are led into that part of the machine in which the twisting operation takes place, while being main- Wlll assume in the finished ing at N ew York, in the county and State of .above, will be in p These feet rest tained in an angular position which corresponds to the position which the strands cord.

Another object is to provide a machine of the type described, provided with means bv which the strands'will be angularlyguided into a position, such as will be assumed by the strands in acompleted cord; this angula'r guiding means being adjustable for different sizes of cord, and for cords of ing rates of twist per unit length. Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to rt obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and application of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein we have shown a preferred form of embodiment of our invention:

Figure 1 is a view of the machine in side elevation'wit-h parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the guiding means.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the means used for spreading the strands.

igure 4 is a View in side elevation, and partly in cross-section, showing the relative positions of the guiding and spreading devices. t

Figure 5 is a view in perspective. of one of the rotating guides of the spreader means.

Figure 6 is an'end view showing the position of the guiding means for one strand in relation to the finished cord; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing a cross-sectional view of the rotating guide. v

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views thereof, the reference character 1 indicates a sub stantially rectangular frame, which-may be disposed in the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 1, or supported horizontally, as may be desired; The frame 1, as shown in Fig. 1, iskprovided with a foot 2, there being provi corner of the bottom end of the frame. on any suitable supporting surface. The upper portion of the frame ed a similar foot 2 at the other 1, designated by the reference character 3, contains the twisting mechanism proper, which is of a more or less well known form, the lower portion of the frame designated by the character 4, containing the spreader and guiding means. The two portions of the frame are separated by a cross-bar 5. In the upper portion of frame 3, there is provided an upright 6 which serves as a mounting for a distributor means which will later be described.

Mounted in a bearing 8 in the upper end of the frame is a shaft 9, which passes into the interior of the frame 1, and has loosely mounted thereon a flyer, the upper crossbar of which is designated by the character 10. This fiyer is provided with downwardly extending side bars 11 and 12, which are connected by a crossar 13 at their lower end. The shaft 9 passes through the interior of the flyer frame constructed of the parts thus described, and has mounted thereon a bobbin 14., provided with the usual heads, and a hollow central portion, through which the shaft 9 extends. The shaft 9 is formed in two parts as shown in the dotted lines at 9, whereby the upper portion may be removed so that the bobbins may be changed when full. Mounted below the lower head of the bobbin on the shaft 9 is a disc 15 provided with a pin 16, which as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to enter an aperture formed in the head of the bobbin, thereby insuring that the bobbin will rotate as the shaft 9 is rotated.

Mounted on the lower end of the shaft 9, inside the frame, is a central gear 17. This gear is fast on shaft 9 and meshes with gears 18 and 19, mounted on studs which extend through the cross-bar 13. The studs 20 and 21 on which the gears 18 and 19 are mounted, are provided with guides 22 and 23 respectively, these guides being provided with two or more peripheral grooves, as may be desired. The lower ends of the studs 20 and 21 extend into a disc 24, in which they are free to revolve, but with which they rotate as the disc 24 is rotated. The disc 24 rests upon a casing 25 within which is shown in dotted lines a gear 26, the gear being rigidly attached to the disc 24. This gear has a bore through the centre, through which the twisted strands may pass. Mounted in a second casing 27 on the cross-bar 5 is a double gear indicated in dottedlines at 28. This gear meshes with a bevel gear not shown, but which is mounted, on the end of the shaft 29, which extends through one of the side bars of the frame 1, and also with gear 26.

Mounted on a post 30 between the crossbar 13 and the disc 24, is a rotating guide 31, and mounted on the side bar 6 near the lower end thereof, and in line with the rotating guide 31, is a rotating guide 32. Mounted on the side bar 12 of the flyer, and free to move along the same, is a sleeve 33, provided with a rotating guide 34, and disposed on the frame member 7 is a sliding member 35, provided with an external rack 36, meshing with a pinion 37, mounted in a bracket 38 on the side bar 3 of the main frame. As shown at the right in Fig. 1, there is provided a ring 39 which encircles the flyer, and which is rigidly attached to the member 35. This member 39 is provided with internally disposed teeth 40, which mesh in suitable grooves 41 in the member 33. It will thus be seen that as the fiyer rotates, carrying the member 33 with it, the position of this member along'the side bar 6, will be determined by the position of the ring 39, and this position can be regulated by the actuation of the gear 37 meshin with the rack 36. This gear will bedriven by any well known reversing mechanism. The assembled parts thus far described are of common construction, and no claim is made as to the patentability of such an. arrangement. They are shown merely for purposes of illustration, and it may be briefly said that the strands which are to be twisted pass through the spreading and guiding means later to be described, upwardly through a suitable aperture or bore in the gear 25, thence to the rotating guide 31. The twisted strands then pass about the studs 20 and 21, in the grooves provided therefor, thence over the rotating guide 32, the guide 34, and thence to the surface of the bobbin, on which the cord is laid.

In operation as the fiyer is rotated, the cord will be laid upon the bobbin, and as the bobbin increases in size, there is provided adifferential action by means of the gears 17, 18 and 19, so that the rate of take-up will re main constant, though the periphery of the bobbin which is being filled will increase. The gear 37 meshing with the rack 36 is also driven from a source of power, and with a reversing movement so that the cord will be laid throughout the length of the bobbin with a regular traverse. A further description of these parts in View of their familiarity is believed to be unnecessary.

As has been explained, it is desired to provide herein a. device in which the finished cord is of uniform cross-section in area, and in which the individual strands are laid not only in a uniform angular relation relative to the axis of the completed cord, but also under uniform tension. To accomplish this purpose there is provided below the cross-bar 5 a depending rod 42. On the lower end of the rod which carries a spline 32 is mounted a bracket 43, the position of which may be adjusted along the rod, as by means of the clamp screw 43. On the outer end of this bracket there is a stud 44, on which is mounted a forked arm 45. In the ends of the fork so provided is mounted a shaft 46, on which -having a central bore end of which is mounted a-disc 49. As will be more clearly seen on reference to- Figures 3 and 4, this disc is provided with a stud 50, by means of which it may be clamped in any desired position in the bracket 48. The disc is provided with a plurality of radially extending slots 51, in which are mounted hearing blocks 52. Each of these blocks has a tongue 53, which rests within the slot 51, and is provided with a pair of upwardly extending arms 54 having a shaft 55 in the upper end thereof.

Mounted on the shaft is a rotating guide 56, having a peripheral groove 57. Mounted in the lower face of the bearing block 52, and extending into the tongue 53 is a bolt 58, by means of which the block may be clamped in position on the disc 49. It will be seen that the radial position of these blocks may be regulated along the slots, as may be desired.

Located above the bracket 48 is a similar bracket 59, the outerend of which is provided with an aperture bearing 60, in which ,eXtends the bored shank 61 of the main guide disc 62. The upper end of the shank is threaded and provided with a nut 63, by means of which the angular relation of the disc 62 to the bracket may be regulated,

Referring now to extending recess 64 in the lower face thereof, and mounted in angular bores 65, at regular intervals through the side wall of the recess, are the shanks 66, on which there are mounted rotating guides'67. At its outer end each shank is provided with a reduced portion 68, which extends through a bearing block 69, of slightly greater diameter than the reduced portion of the shank, and disposed about the reduced portion of the shank is a spring 70, which bears at one end against the end of the block 69, and at the other against the end of the shank. On the outer end of the reduced portion 68,- there are provided locking nuts 71, by means of which the shank is held in position. The inner surface of each bearing .block is also provided with enters a suitable slot formed in the surface of the shank. It will thus be seen that the shank is resiliently held in position inv the bearing-block 69, and is incapable of rotation therein, being free to move longitudinally of the bearing block a distancesuch as is permitted by the collapse of the spring.

Mounted on the periphery of the disc 62 on either side of the bearing blocks 69 are anchoring screws .7 3, which permit of the angular adjustment of the bearing blocks in their bores 'ings which are designated in Figures 2-and 3, it will be noted that the disc 62 has an upwardly guides are fixed in longitudinal axis of a key 72, which.

At the inner end of the shanks 66 there are provided slots 74, across which are mounted pins 75. The rotating guides 67 are mounted on these pins on ball beargeneral by the reference character 76. v

It will be noted on reference to Fig. 2

that the rotating guides 67 are provided with peripheral grooves 77, so that the strands may be readily guided thereover. It will be further seenon reference to Fig. 2 that the shanks 66 are so disposed in their bearing blocks as to give the rotating guides an angular disposition relative to the axis of the disc 62. i i

The strands which are to be used in form'- ing the cord are introduced into the machine from any suitable source of supply, not indicated. These strands indicated by the reference character 78 will be led down under the roller 47, thence upwardly about the spreader device 49, one cord passing over each of the rotating guides 56 'mounted thereon. In this connection it may be said that the guides 56 are mounted on their pins 55 on ball-bearings similar in construction to those illustrated in Fig. 7, so that the cords will pass thereover with a minimum of frictional strain. The rotating guides 56 are placed radially of the disc'49 in a position which depends on the size of the indi- Vidual strands, and of the cords which are to be formed by their combination.

From the spreading guides the strands pass upwardly and over the rotating guides 67, which are angularly displaced as has previously been ezgplained. It will be understood that 111 twisting devices the general operation may be briefly described as consisting of holding the strands fast at one point, which may be described as the ,fixed point, while rotating the strands at a point removed in space therefrom; the relative movement of these two strands to be twisted about themselves and thereby combining them into a .cord. As has previously'been explained, the flyer mechanism provides the rotating point, and the fixed point with regard to the individual strands may be considered as the bight of the guides 67 it being understood that these position relative to the the machine.

It will be seen on examination of Fig. 4, and from obvious considerations, that in the twisting operation the strandsbeing wound about themselves assume positions in which their longitudinal axes at any point in their length will occupy an angular relation with the axis of the finished cord. It will be furthen seen that if means can be provided by which the individual strands fixed point so that their longitudinal axes occupy the angular position which corresponds .to that which'they will finally assume after having been twisted, the strands points causing the are held at the will combine to form a cord of uniform cross-section, and one in which equal lengths of the strands are used for any determined length of cord. This insures, therefore, that when a load is applied to the finished cord, each strand will assume its component part f the stress, since the lengths of all the strands in a given length of cord are equal, and by insuring that the cords are laid under uniform conditions of tension, it becomes certain furthermore that .each strand will be stretched equally so that the crosssectional area of the cord under load will remain uniform throughout its length.

To accomplish this purpose we have provided the angularly disposed guides 67,,together with the spreading devices previously described. These angularly disposed guides are placed in such relation to the axis of the finished cord, that the individual strands are guided during the laying operation in the exact positions which they will assume in a cord of uniform cross-section. The guides mounted on the spreader device are further disposed so as to insure that the strands will enter the peripheral grooves in the guides 67 thereby insuring that the action of these guides will be positive.

Should there occur any undue strain on any of the individual strands, which would cause such strand to become more taut than the others, thiswould cause the individual guide 67 therefor to yield against itsspring, thus preventing a distortion of the cross section of tle completed cord. Itwill be seen further that in the passage of the strands through the machine, the twisting operation'occurs beyond the point of contact of each strand with its angular guide 67, the action of these guides simply causing each strand to be laid in the proper position therefor in the completed cord and having no effect and producing no part of the twisting operation proper. It will be seen further that by providing the adjustable mountings for the angular guides and for the guides mounted on the spreader, cords formed of different sized strands may be readily produced, and inasmuch as it is further possible to regulate the angular position of the guides 67 in the disc 62, it will be seen that the action of the guides may be taken advantage of, regardless of whether or, not the cord is tightly or loosely twisted, that is to say, whether or not it has many or few twists per unit length. It will be understood, of course, that in feeding the strands from the source of supply, there may be provided suitable tensioning means not here shown, such as floating weights, or other devices of that character. By causing the rotating guides of the spreader, and of the laying devices to be mounted on ball-bearings, friction isminimized so that the operation of these devices will not be varied by such causes.-

It will be seen that we have devised a twisting machine Well adapted to attain the various objects and aims previously set forth. Ve have found that it is possible to produce cords of varying numbers of individual strands by the use of slightly modified'forms of this machine, the essential features, however, remaining the same. We have further found that the provision of the spreader devices, and the stationary laying means having the angularly disposed individual guides mounted therein, make it possible to produce a cord having a more nearly uniform crosssection throughout its length than has previouly been possible. e have further found that with the cords produced in the I machine of the present application, it is possible to attain a more even distribution of stress among the individual strands than has heretofore been the case.

By way of definition it may be said that the term axis of twist appearing in the claims hereafteryi s used to designate the axis of the twisted cord which results from the action of the fiyer. This twist, as has been explained, is produced by rotating the strands so'as to wrap them about one another to form a single cord, and the twisting action occurs after the cords have left the angularly disposed guides. The term zone of twist? is used to designate that part of the machine in which the twisting operation occurs, and the strands pass into the zone of twist after they have passed the angularly disposed guides.

It will be clear further from the consideration of the specification and of the drawings, that the strands which have passed the fixed point represented by the angularly disposed guides, and have been subjected to the twisting operation caused by the rotation of the flyer, will be wrapped about themselves so that each strand takes the form of a helix. Were'a plane to be passed through the first convolution of each of such helices, which occur after the strands-pass the fixed point, this plane would in turn pass through the peripheral groove in the angularly disposed guide over which such strand passes. The guides may, therefore, be said to be angularly disposed so as to guide'the strand along cord to be used in the manufacture of cord paths which correspond to the angular distime caused to tires. It will be noted that this machine is adaptable for use at relatively high speeds, inasmuch as the individual strands which areto be combined in the machine are at no pass over friction producing surfaces, It will be seen that from the moment the strands are introduced into the machine they pass over roller guides at every point (if contact, thus minimizingany frictional strain on the cords, and ashas been vstated, making it possible to'drive the ma,-

chineat higher speeds than is normally the case of machines of this character.

It should be pointed out in this connection that the disc 62 is to be regarded as a stationary means for, guiding the strands, inasmuch as this disc does'not rotate or have other movement during the operation of the ma chine. The individual strand guides mounted in the disc, therefore, rotate as the strands pass over them, and these guides, as well as the guides mounted in the spreader device, are mounted on ball-bearings so that they will rotate freely.

While the parts and their arrangement in the presentdevice are of the preferred form, it willbe clear that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and it is 'desired that the construction here illustrated be considered as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

risin in combination P .b a

prising in combination,

I between said supply the axis of twist of Having thus described our invention what .we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. A' device of the class described, com- 'means to supply a plurality of strands, means to twist said strands into a single cord, and stationary means to guide said strands into the twisted position along paths disposed angularly of the axis of said cord and corresponding to the angular position of said strands in said 7 cord. 2. A device of the class described, com-- prising in combination, means to supply a plurality of strands, means to twist said strands into a single cord, and individual meansto guide each of said strands along a path disposed at an angleto the axis of twist and corresponding to angular position of said'strands in the twisted cord.

3; A'device of the class described, com means to supply a means to twist said cord, a disc disposed and twisting means, and, individual guiding means for said strands mounted, on said disc, said guiding means beingangularly disposed relativeto said cord. j

4. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, means to supply a plurality of strands, rotating means to twist said strands about themselves to form a plurality of strands, strands into a single themselves plurahty of strands,

single cord, and fixed means strands to said rotating means, said'fixed means being so disposed as to guide said strands along paths corresponding to the relative angular positions of said strands after the twisting operation has been performed;

5. A device, of the class described, comprising in combination, means to supply'a plurality of strands, rotating means adapted to acton said strands to twist them about themselves to form a cord, and means to guide said strands to said twisting means, said guiding means comprising a stationary disc and individual strand guides mounted therein, said guides being angularly disposed relativeto the axis of said rotating means, whereby to paths determined by the angular relation of said strands to the axis of twist.

6; A device of the class described, com-- prising in combination, means to supply a plurality of strands, rotating means adapted to act on said strands to twist them about themselves to form a'cord, and means to guide said strands to said twisting means, said guiding means comprising a stationary disc having an'open center, a plurality of shanks radially disposed insa-id disc, and guides mounted in said shanks, said guides being angularly disposed relative to the axis of twist whereby to guide said strands along straight paths to the twisted position.

7. A device of the class described, comprising'incombination, means to supply a plurality of strands, rotating means adapted to act on said strands to twist them about themselves to form a cord, and means to guide said strands to said twisting means, said guiding means comprising a stationary disc having an open center, a plurality of shanks radially disposed in longitudinally resilient mountings in said disc, and guides mounted in said shanks, said guides being angularly disposed relative to the axis of twist' whereby to guide said strands along straight paths to the twisted position.

8. A device of the classdescribed, comprising in eombination,means to supply a plurality of, strands, rotating means adapted to act on said strands to twist them about to form a cord, and means to guide said strands to said twisting means,

to guide said guide said strands along said guiding means comprising a stationary disc having an open center, a plurality of radially disposed shanks in said disc adjustable resilient/means to hold said shanks in position, and guides mounted in said shanks, said guides being angularly disposed relative to the axis of' twist whereby toguide said strands along straight pathsto the twisted position.

9. A device of the class described, comprisingin combination, means to supply a rotating means to twist said strands together to form a single cord, means to guide said strands to the twisting zone along angular paths determined by the relative positions of said strands in the finished cord, and spreader means to direct said strands to said guiding means, said spreader means including a radially slotted disc and individual strand guides mounted in said slots.

10. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, means to supply a plurality of strands, rotating means to twist said strands together to form a single cord, means to guide said strands to the twisting zone along angular paths determined by the relative positions of said strands in the finished cord, and spreader means to direct said strands to said guiding means, said spreader means including a disc and a plurality of individual strand guides mounted therein, and over the peripheral surfaces of which said strands pass.

11. A device of the class described, comprising in combination with means to supply a plurality of strands and means to twist said strands together'to form a cord, individual guides adjustably and resiliently mounted in such position as to direct said strands to said twisting means along paths corresponding to the positions occupied by said strands in the twisted cord, and spreader means to cause said strands to be acted on by said guides.

12. A device of the class described, comprising in combination with means to supply a plurality of strands and means to twist said strands together to form-a cord, individual guides adjustably and resiliently mounted in such position as to direct said strands to said twisting means along paths corresponding to the positions accu ied by said strands in the twisted cord, an means to cause said strands to be acted on by said guides, said means including a disc and a plurality of strand guides disposed in radially adjustable positions therein.

13. In a device of the class described, 3.

guide for directing individual strands to twisting means, comprising a disc. a plurality of shanks resiliently mounted therein in radial position, and grooved wheels mounted on the inner ends of said shanks, said wheels being disposed in planes passing through the individual strands in the twisted cord beyond said guide.

14. In a device of the class described, a

guide for directing individual strands to twisting means, an open center disc provided with a central recess in'one-face thereof, aplurality of shanks radially disposed in resilient mountings in the wall of said recess, and grooved wheels mounted in the inner end of said shanks, said wheels being disposed in planes passing through the individual strands in the twisted cord beyond said guide.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a'guide for directing individual strands to twisting means, comprising a disc, a plurality of shanks resiliently mounted therein in radial position,

and grooved wheels in said shanks adapted to lie in planes passing through the individual strands in the twist cord beyond said guide, of spreader means to direct said strands to said wheels along predetermined paths.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a guide for directing individual strands to twisting means, com- 

